UAE: Flight Traffic Jumps 500% as Afghan Airspace Crowded Amid Iran-Israel Conflict
Dubai, UAE – As the Iran-Israel conflict escalates, air traffic over Taliban-controlled Afghanistan has surged by 500%, with an average of 280 flights daily since June 13.
This spike follows the closure of airspace across much of the Middle East, prompting airlines to seek alternative routes to connect Asia with Europe and the US.
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Data from Flightradar24 indicates that only about 50 flights per day were using Afghan airspace last month.
The ongoing conflict has made routes over Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran increasingly risky, leading major carriers like American Airlines and Air France-KLM to reduce services in the region.
After initially hesitating to fly over Afghanistan, numerous airlines have begun utilizing its airspace following the removal of restrictions in 2023.
The Taliban stands to gain financially from this surge, imposing a $700 fee per flight, potentially resulting in more than $1 million in revenue due to increased air traffic.
With the situation in the region remaining volatile, the reliance on Afghan airspace for international flights is expected to continue.
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